Journalism by Jewish college students, for Jewish college students.
In South Africa, there’s a conspiracy theory that has spread among the white population since the fall of Apartheid. It goes by many names: Uhuru, Operation Vula, Operation White Clean-up, and – in a nod to Nazi Germany – Night of the Long Knives (in Afrikaans, Die Nag van die Lang Messe). Â What it says…
I’ve been given a unique experience in Israel: to partake in a conference, organized through the Jewish Agency for Israel, that is training Shlichim to go to American camps. Shlichim are Israelis ages 18-40 (most are in their early 20’s but there is a speckle of older Israelis) who are being trained to understand American…
Forgive me for my late post. You see, like my ancestors before me, I too had an arduous exodus from Egypt. Â And although mine involved less wandering through the desert and more riding in buses through the desert–not to mention waiting in security lines, enduring a ‘random’ bag search, and withstanding a heart-stopping bomb scare–I…
Barack Obama: Arrogant. Barack Obama: Despicable. Barack Obama: Muslim? The other day, as I do every day, I rode to work on Jerusalem’s bus #28. Â The commute is usually long and tedious, and only made palatable by the sounds of my iPod. Â On this specific morning, I found myself sitting behind two elderly women. Â Normally…
For years they wandered, desperate to be at home in their God-given land. Â Despite constantly being at the mercy of cruel, tyrannical leaders, they tried to live lives of dignity. Â Above all else, they were certain that they were God’s chosen people and that eventually, the land they loved would belong to them. Â The trials…
As Israel Apartheid Week finally winds to a close across campuses around the world, allow me to take a look back at the demise of the original Apartheid in South Africa. Â Though South Africa’s Apartheid and Israel’s occupation are two wholly different animals, at their core they are very much alike. Â In both, the government…
I can count on one hand the amount of times I’ve eaten liver in my life. The first time was when I had paté not knowing it was liver. The second time was at a holiday party where they served chopped liver. The third time was when my friend’s roommate’s girlfriend came over to cook…
This is the second post of a series. To read the first post, click here. The next morning we walked passed the synagogue on our way to the main boulevard. It was an impressive cement building with a giant Magen David centered above the entrance, which had two Greek columns on either side. The temple…
To start, let me apologize for the delay. I was in the midst of a move and was unable to access the Internet until now. Fortunately, this gave me the opportunity to further grapple with Israeli Apartheid Week–and my editor Ben’s response–and hopefully formulate a coherent defense of my position. First off, let me acknowledge…
Today, the sixth incarnation of Israeli Apartheid Week gets underway. Â Aiming to amplify international calls for the BDS movement–that is, the boycott of Israeli goods, divestment from the Israeli economy and placement of sanctions on Israeli imports, respectively–organizers have planned various demonstrations in more than 40 international cities over the next 14 days. Â And though…
I was down in the shukh this week and I encountered what seemed to be a nest of alien eggs! Spindly, green, and round, they seemed to have come here from somewhere near Neo Nebulus Nine and were getting ready to hatch and begin phase two of an invasion of Earth. They were on sale…
One of the most exciting events, and a personal favorite of mine, is seeing Jews arrive in Israel for the first time.  Before they arrive in Israel they brew up high expectations that cause them terrible excitement.  Therefore, they are generally overcome by  emotion when they do arrive in Israel.  I have only hazy memories of…
Rob, Hannah and I took turns posing in front of the “Welcome to Egypt” sign as we crossed the border. We were on break for Sukkot and thought the best way to celebrate the exodus from Egypt was to visit Egypt. At the last of four checkpoints, the three of us conferred and decided not…
Before coming to Israel, everyone I spoke to raved about Tel Aviv. Oh, you’ll love it there, It’s such a hip city, and so on and so forth. All this was music to my ears, except when I remembered that I’d actually be living about 100 kilometers east in the very austere and very un-hip…
The non-stop supply of Falafel, Israeli Salad (Tomato and Cucumber), Cabbage Salad (affectionately dubbed: the purple stuff), Hummus, Tuna Salad, Tehina, Tabouli, Salad, Salad, Salad is making me go crazy!! I needed a taste of home. Something hearty, italian, tomatoey and cheesy. I decided to make eggplant parmesan, but give it a little bit of…